Jakarta. Indonesia has temporarily blocked access to the artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, citing concerns over the spread of nonconsensual deepfake pornography that authorities say threatens women, children and public safety.

The decision was taken by the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry (Komdigi) as a preventive measure against the misuse of AI technology to generate fake sexualized images, including of minors, Minister Meutya Hafid said on Saturday.

“The government views nonconsensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity and citizens’ safety in the digital space,” Meutya said in a statement.

In addition to suspending access, the ministry has summoned representatives of X, the social media platform that hosts Grok, to seek clarification on the tool’s impact on user safety and the safeguards in place to prevent abuse.

“To protect women, children and the wider public from the risks of AI-generated fake pornographic content, the government has taken firm action by temporarily halting access to Grok,” Meutya said.

She warned that the spread of AI-generated fake pornography can cause severe harm, including reputational damage, psychological trauma, and threats to personal security, making preventive action necessary to ensure a safe and ethical digital environment.

The ministry said the suspension was carried out under its regulatory authority, referring to Communications and Informatics Ministerial Regulation No. 5/2020 on private electronic system operators. Under Article 9 of the regulation, platform operators are required to ensure their systems do not host, facilitate, or distribute content prohibited by Indonesian law.

Authorities said access to Grok will remain suspended while the government evaluates X’s clarification and corrective measures. Any decision to restore access will depend on the platform’s commitment to protecting users and preventing further misuse.

Alexander Sabar, a senior ministry official, said AI companies — as well as individuals who generate and distribute illegal content — could face administrative penalties and criminal charges. Under Indonesia’s new penal code, the production and distribution of pornographic material can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years, along with financial penalties.

He also urged victims to report cases of deepfake abuse to authorities.

The issue has prompted warnings from public figures, including the management of Indonesian girl group JKT48, which recently cautioned fans and online users that it would pursue legal action against anyone found using Grok to digitally undress its members.

X, developed by Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, has pledged to act against illegal content on its platform, including removing such material, permanently suspending offending accounts and cooperating with governments.

Indonesia is one of X’s largest markets, with about 22.9 million users, according to data from research firm Statista.

Add as a preferred source on Google +